free appropriate public education
Free appropriate public education (FAPE) is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , which guarantees special education rights for children with disabilities. According to Understood , disabilities can include both learning and thinking differences. To see if a child qualifies for special education services, schools must determine if they have a “covered” disability under the Act and if that disability is severe enough for special education services.
Once a child is qualified, FAPE requires a school to provide special education for the child’s specific needs, related services (e.g. transportation), accommodations (e.g. audiobooks), an Individualized Education Program (IEP) , and teach the child in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) .
[Last reviewed in July of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
Wex